Aquinoe Learning Centre Charitable Trust Closes

After nearly 20 years, the trustees have reluctantly closed the charity.  Since the Covid pandemic the school has been unable to recruit sufficient fee-paying children to ensure its future.  The charity suggested several measures that the school could put in place, but unfortunately the school could not implement them, and became almost totally reliant on the UK charity money.  Despite our supporters’ amazing generosity, the charity’s income is insufficient to run the school; it was always intended that the school should be self-sufficient for the basics, whilst the charity would “make a difference” by providing “extras”.

Aquinoe Chair Jean Thompson says; “The trustees are extremely sad at the closure”.

Founded in 2004, Aquinoe raised over £250,000 for the Aquinoe Learning Centre, upgrading facilities and helping large numbers of children and staff.

Over the years, apart from buildings for teaching, physiotherapy, special needs and a canteen, new dormitories were also built.

Other items financed have included furniture, toilets, showers, books, mosquito nets, physiotherapy aids, sports equipment and a water harvesting system.

Capping it all, a solar power system was installed in 2016 and later upgraded.

Please also see post: Passing On The Baton for how the balance of  Aquinoe’s funds is helping another school in Kenya.

About the ALC

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At the ALC Charitable Trust we are working hard to raise awareness and funding to help children at the Aquinoe Learning Centre in Kenya. The school, founded in 1998 and having a staff of thirty three, is located in Kitale, about 390 kilometres (242 miles) from Nairobi. Of the two hundred pupils at the school, twenty six have special needs. Many of the families are very poor, and some of the children are orphans, so both of these groups are in desperate need of assistance.

Our Mission

Aquinoe Learning Centre in Kenya provides inclusive education for children in and around Kitale. This means that all pupils are welcome at the school, whether they are ‘mainstream’ or not. Some children have physical, sensory or learning disabilities, while others are orphans, or have parents with financial difficulties. The ALC Charitable Trust provides support so that the school is able to carry out its aim of being truly inclusive.